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Ankle ligament tear
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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Ankle ligament rupture is a very common injury, especially in sports and on icy roads. You need to be careful not to get this injury.
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Causes of ankle ligament rupture
The ankle bears the weight of the body when walking. The ankle joint has a unique structure, and the fact that we often get injuries to it can be explained by our lifestyle. We move little and because of this, we get a rupture of the ankle ligaments even with small falls. Also, the severity of the injury always depends on age. The older the person, the greater the risk of injury. The cause of injury can be walking in heels or doing certain sports: running, jumping. Some people just have a special structure of the ligaments that makes them stretchable.
Symptoms of a torn ankle ligament
An ankle ligament rupture is accompanied by pain, swelling and instability in this area. Even if there is no severe swelling, treatment is required. With repeated injury, there may be no swelling, but the feeling of instability increases. With a complete ligament rupture, the pain is unbearable and walking becomes impossible. Swelling of the ankle and hemarthrosis - bleeding into the joint - occur. X-rays can detect pieces of bone tissue that break off when the ligament is damaged. A complete ligament rupture is often accompanied by subluxations and dislocations of the ankle. With milder injuries (second degree rupture, partial rupture), walking is possible, but the patient experiences moderate pain when walking and limps.
Partial rupture of ankle ligaments
As the name suggests, the ankle joint connects the foot and lower leg and enables a person to walk upright. If you suspect a rupture of the ankle ligaments, even a partial one, you should immediately apply ice to the injured area. Treatment of a partial rupture of the ligaments should be started immediately after the injury. The duration of treatment is usually up to 3 weeks. Surgery to restore the ligament is not required. It is enough to wear an elastic bandage or splint. Try to put your leg as high as possible, for example, on several pillows. The pain will decrease. You cannot go to the sauna or bathhouse during treatment. Massage and exercise therapy are indicated at the rehabilitation stage. It begins within 24 hours with a rupture of the 1st degree. With the second degree - after 2-3 days you should start doing exercises. NSAIDs should not be used for more than 10 days. Diclofenac, Ibuprofen increase the risk of developing a stomach ulcer. 100-150 mg of diclofenac in tablets should be divided into 2-3 doses. For children, the dose is calculated as follows: 1-2 mg/kg of the child's weight. The dose should also be divided into 2 doses.
Where does it hurt?
Consequences of a torn ankle ligament
An ankle ligament rupture can lead to subluxation and dislocation, often this injury also accompanies fractures. The consequences of improper treatment of an ankle ligament rupture can bother the patient for many years. They most often manifest themselves as instability of the joint or the development of its arthrosis, a condition in which the articular cartilage wears out prematurely. All that is needed is to conduct a correct diagnosis in time.
Diagnosis of ankle ligament rupture
Diagnosis of any injury begins with questioning the patient. The doctor evaluates the mechanism of injury. In case of ankle injuries, the patient hears a crunch or crack, feels pain and it becomes clear that there has been bleeding into the joint, swelling appears, sometimes the size of a chicken egg. On the X-ray, if there is no ligament tear, no changes are observed. If there was a ligament tear, you can see fragments of bone tissue that were torn off along with the ligament. Therefore, the most informative method of examination if there is a suspicion of ligament rupture is MRI. If it is not possible to do MRI, an ultrasound is performed.
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How to examine?
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Treatment of ankle ligament rupture
Ankle injuries are a problem for many athletes, and not only them. Physically unprepared people often get injuries due to weak muscles and connective tissue.
What to do with this injury? During the first day, you must apply ice for 10 minutes every hour. Your fingers should not go numb or cold. You can take Ibuprofen tablets, dividing the dose into 1.6 tablets several times. There may be side effects in the form of nausea, constipation, diarrhea, headache. You cannot use Ibuprofen for pain relief if you have a stomach ulcer or diseased kidneys or liver with severe impairment of their function.
You can use menthol ointment for local treatment. You just need to apply a strip of ointment to the injury and rub it in. It will cool and relieve pain.
From day 4, we begin massage, physiotherapy and joint development, but not through pain. Stand on your toes and lower yourself back down 20 times. Gradually increase the load. After a week or a little later, you can gradually start running if you have been involved in any kind of sport.
Recovery from an ankle ligament tear
Ankle ligament rupture can be treated with exercises, but you should start them only when the acute pain has already gone away. When the ligaments are damaged, the sense of balance is disturbed, and this is what we must restore. No massage or warming up will help this, only physical education. After the plaster is removed, you need to wear a bandage for some time.
Here are some exercises.
Press the fitball against the wall with your back and squat down while holding the ball.
Walk around the room, turning your heels in and out.
Lying on your back, do the "bicycle" exercise.
While sitting on a chair, roll the ball across the floor.
Using your heel as support, pull your toes towards you and away from you.
Rotate your foot while sitting on the floor.
Sit on the table with your legs hanging down. Hang a 1 kg weight on your leg and lift it with your toe.
Place a rag on the floor, grab it with the toes of your sore foot and lift it up.
Prevention of ankle ligament rupture
You can easily prevent ankle ligament rupture by following certain conditions:
- Wear good, comfortable shoes and save heels for special occasions.
- Strengthen your peroneal muscles and do not allow the muscles to atrophy.
- When playing sports, choose high-top sneakers with a firm heel counter and a rigid arch support.
- Remember that women have weaker ligaments and a higher risk of injury.
- You should also be careful if you have high arches or different leg lengths.
If you are diagnosed with a torn ankle ligament, you can recover completely without any consequences if you go to the emergency room in time and follow the doctor's instructions.